REPORT WRITING

Final Stage

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 Report
• Research report is a formal statement of the
research process and its results
• It narrates the problem studied, method used,
the findings and conclusion of the study

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 Characteristics of Report
• Narrative but authoritative document
• Presents highly specific information
• It is a simple readable and accurate form of
communication

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 Functions of Research Report
• Serve as a means of presenting the problem
studied
• Basic reference for future use/work
• Means for judging the quality of the research
• Means for evaluating the researcher’s ability &
competence
• Provides realistic base for formulating policies
• Provides knowledge on problems and issues to
be analyzed

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 Types of Research Report
• Information oriented
• Decision oriented
• Research oriented
• Technical report
• Popular report
• Short-term/temporary report
• Summary report
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 Steps in Report Writing
• Target Audience
• Communication characteristics of the audience
• Future purpose of the report
• Type of report
• Scope of report
• Style of reporting
• Format of the report
• Out line/table of content

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 Research Report Format
• Prefatory items
Title page
Research’s declaration
Certificate
Preface/acknowledgement
Table of contents
List of tables
List of graphs & charts
Abstract or synapsis
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 Research Report Format
• Body of the report
 Introduction
 Theoretical background of the topic
 Statement of the problem
 Review of literature
 scope of the study
 Objectives
 Hypothesis
 Definition of concepts
 Model if any
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 Research Report Format
• Design of the study
 Methodology
 Sources of data
 Sampling plan
 Data collection instruments
 Data processing & analysis plan
 Findings/result & discussion
 Conclusion & recommendation

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 Research Report Format
• Terminal items
Bibliography
Appendix
– Copies of data collection instrument
– Complex tables
– Glossary of new terms
– Case study if any

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 Referencing
• The need for referencing: to show what literature you
have reviewed, what theories you refer to, etc
• In-text citation, direct quotation, rewording,
• List of references: what ever appears in the text as in
body
• Plagiarism: avoid it by citation
• Referencing styles: Consistency!
– APA style
– Harvard (refer to internet sources)
– IEEE Style
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 Bibliography
Examples of sources
(1) Journal article
• Murzynski, J., & Degelman, D. (1996). Body language of women and
judgments of vulnerability to sexual assault. Journal of Applied Social
Psychology, 26, 1617-1626.
(2) Book
• Paloutzian, R. F. (1996). Invitation to the psychology of religion (2nd
ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
• American Psychiatric Association. (1990). Diagnostic and statistical
manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
• (note: "Author" is used as above when author and publisher are
identical.)
(3) Article or chapter in an edited book
• Shea, J. D. (1992). Religion and sexual adjustment. In J. F. Schumaker
(Ed.), Religion and Mental Health (pp. 70-84). New York: Oxford
University Press.
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 Bibliography
(4): Journal article from database
• Hien, D., & Honeyman, T. (2000). A closer look at the drug
abuse-maternal aggression link. Journal of Interpersonal
Violence, 15, 503-522. Retrieved May 20, 2000, from
ProQuest database.
(5). Abstract from secondary database
• Garrity, K., & Degelman, D. (1990). Effect of server
introduction on restaurant tipping. Journal of Applied Social
Psychology, 20, 168-172. Abstract retrieved July 23, 2001,
from PsycINFO database.
(6) Letter to the editor
• O'Neill, G. W. (1992, January). In support of DSM-III [Letter to
the editor]. APA Monitor, 4-5.
(7) Magazine article
• Gardner, H. (1991, December). Do babies sing a universal
song? Psychology Today,70-76.
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 Bibliography
(xi) Newsletter article
• Brown, L.S. (1993, Spring). My research with oranges. The
Psychology Department Newsletter, 3, 2.
• The date is given as it appears on the publication. For
anonymous newspaper articles.
(xii) Pamphlet
• Just Say No Foundation. (1992). Saving our youth. (9th ed.)
[Brochure]. Washington, DC: Author.
(xiii) Anonymous or unknown author (common in newspapers):
• Caffeine linked to mental illness. (1991, July 13). New York
Times, pp. B13, B15.
 
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 Communicating the Results…
Precautions:
• Your sentences and paragraphs
• While presenting the results (findings):
• When discussing the results/findings
• When writing the conclusion and
recommendations:
• When preparing and Delivering a Presentation

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 Communicating the Results…
Pay attention to your sentences and paragraphs:
• Sentences: Grammar, spelling, mechanics, sentence
construction(verb-subject agreement, flow), etc.
• Paragraphs:
– not too long, not too short;
– Convey one idea in one paragraph,
– Usually a paragraph has introduction and concluding sentences
– Check for flow, coherence, economy, etc
– Use connecting words/phrases; avoid repetitions of
words/phrases
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 Communicating the Results…
• While reporting the results:
– Do not report one result in different formats (e.g.
table, text, graph) – use one!
– Do not repeat the results that are presented in a table
or graph in your paragraphs; write what you observe
(trends, patterns, averages, etc)
• When discussing results/findings
– Do not report results again!; Focus on the why part
(reasons)/explanations for the findings from your data
or from theory, or give your own interpretation
– Link with theory/other studies, your hypothesis
– Use the specific objectives of your study as a guide
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 Communicating the Results…
When writing the conclusion and recommendations:
 Should be based on your findings
 Answer your research questions/address your
specific objectives
 Indicate how your recommendations could be put
into practice (the how part)

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Preparing and Delivering a Presentation – the Oral
Defense session
Question:
What should you do before and during the
defense session so that you will be able to
defend your thesis well and get good marks?

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Preparing and Delivering a Presentation –
the Oral Defense session
•  What do the advisor and the examiner(s) expect from
you? Content-wise, Be focused! Don’t present
everything! You could focus on:
 The problem, research questions
Your conceptual model & variables
Methodology (in short)
Summary of Key findings, results of hypothesis
testing, and comparison with theory (or
interpretation) and other studies; Main Conclusion
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 Preparing and Delivering a Presentation…
What else do they need from you?
 Dressing – elegant. Dress for the audience!
 Language fluency – Correct grammar, pronunciations
 Eye contact – don’t look at the roof or the floor or only one
person!
 Voice (loud enough, not so noisy, attractive sound),
 Speed – medium,
 Self-confidence (show that it is your work),
 Openness (transparency), receptive of comments
 Honesty – Say I don’t know this if you really don’t know
something – Don’t pretend or be defensive
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 Communicating the Results: Research Report Writing
Structure of your research report (Thesis): It depends on the
type of study. Generally, it includes:
 Front maters
 Main body:
 Chapter 1: Introduction
 Chapter 2: Literature review
 Chapter 3: Methodology
 Chapter 4: Results and Discussion
 Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations
 Back maters
• List of references
• Annexes
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THE END